Bay Area Criminal Defense Blog

Can you appeal a criminal conviction in California? Learn about appeal deadlines, grounds, guilty pleas, the appellate process, and what defendants should know.

Learn how probation works after a California criminal conviction, including probation conditions, supervision, violations, termination, and what happens when probation ends.

Learn what happens during criminal sentencing in California, including probation, jail or prison, restitution, fines, victim statements, custody credits, and appeals.

Can you change your plea after arraignment in California? Learn when a plea may be changed, when a guilty plea can be withdrawn, and why timing matters.

Learn what happens during jury selection in a California criminal trial, including voir dire, challenges for cause, peremptory challenges, and how jurors are selected.

Learn how California prosecutors decide whether to file criminal charges, including probable cause, evidence, witness credibility, charging discretion, and pre-filing investigations.

Should you accept a plea bargain in a California criminal case? Learn the benefits, risks, trial considerations, and key factors to review before accepting a plea deal.

What happens after you plead not guilty to criminal charges in California? Learn about pretrial proceedings, evidence, preliminary hearings, dismissal, plea deals, and trial.

How long does a criminal case take in Alameda or Contra Costa County? Learn what affects the timeline, from arraignment and discovery to plea deals, motions, and trial.

Can criminal charges be dismissed before trial in California? Learn how pretrial motions, preliminary hearings, Penal Code 995, and other legal options may affect a case.

Learn what to expect from the criminal court process in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, including arraignment, pretrial proceedings, plea agreements, trial, and sentencing.

Facing criminal charges can be stressful, particularly when you are not sure what will happen at your next court appearance. After an arraignment, many California criminal cases enter a pretrial phase during which the defense and prosecution exchange information, evaluate the evidence, discuss po...

Learn how arraignments work in Contra Costa County criminal court, including pleas, legal rights, bail, court appearances, and what defendants should expect.

What happens at your first criminal court appearance in Alameda County? Learn what to expect at arraignment, including pleas, bail, rights, court dates, and legal representation.

A DUI arrest or conviction in California has consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom. In addition to criminal charges, drivers are immediately subject to administrative action by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This separate process focuses specifically on driving pr...

Find out what happens if you drive on a suspended license in California, including potential criminal charges, fines, jail time, vehicle impoundment, and how violations affect your driving record and reinstatement process.

Learn how multiple DUI convictions affect license eligibility in California, including longer suspensions, stricter DMV requirements, ignition interlock device rules, and how prior offenses impact reinstatement and driving privileges.

Find out whether winning a DMV hearing in Alameda County can prevent a license suspension after a DUI arrest, how the DMV process works, and what outcomes are possible for drivers facing administrative action.

Find out whether a DUI attorney can shorten a license suspension in California, including how DMV hearings, legal defenses, and case strategy may affect suspension outcomes and driving privilege reinstatement.

Find out whether a DUI attorney can shorten a license suspension in California, including how DMV hearings, legal defenses, and case strategy may affect suspension outcomes and driving privilege reinstatement.

What Happens If You Violate DUI License Restrictions In Contra Costa County?

Can You Get A Hardship License After A DUI In California?

Learn how long an ignition interlock device (IID) must be installed after a DUI in California, including typical requirement periods, DMV rules, and how DUI level and prior offenses affect IID duration and license reinstatement.

Discover who is required to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in Alameda County, including DUI offenders, repeat violations, and DMV or court-ordered cases, and learn how IID requirements affect driving privileges in California.

Learn how ignition interlock devices (IIDs) work after a DUI in California, including installation requirements, breath testing rules, compliance monitoring, and how they affect license reinstatement and restricted driving privileges.